Chapter 132 of Volume 1

  Jubin Building is not only large in scale and well-located, but also has skilled chefs, plus the golden signboard of Fan's family, business is booming, people come and go, never-ending.

  Each time they came, Qiu Zhen and others couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of their hearts.

  Shangguan Yuanbiao scratched his chest and joked, "We fight to the death on the battlefield, but our monthly salary might not even be as much as what a wine house earns in a day!"

  Tang Yin smiled but didn't speak. During this time, his relationship with Fan Min grew day by day, but he never asked about the Fan family business. Fan Min had opened so many shops in Pingyuan County, and Tang Yin really didn't know how much income they generated each month.

  Shangguan Yuanwu glanced at his brother and said, "Then don't join the army, just stay in the city and do business!"

  Shangguan Yuanbiao shook his head like a rattle drum and said repeatedly, "That's not going to work, I still think marching and fighting is interesting."

  Yuan Wu and Yuan Biao were twin brothers, identical in appearance but vastly different in personality, with the former being steady and the latter impulsive.

  Before long, Xiao Er brought up the wine and dishes one by one. The wine was a special strong liquor from Fengguo, both spicy and potent. The dishes were wild game hunted by Tang Yin and his friends, including mountain pig, pheasant, hare and other delicacies, which had been transformed into delicious dishes by the chef of the wine house, filling the air with savory aromas.

  As people ate and drank, the conversation gradually increased, from hunting to fighting against barbarian soldiers, from wine and dishes to the customs of various vassal states, all over the world, nothing was left unspoken.

  Tang Yin didn't say much, but he listened very seriously. He also wanted to know more about the current situation of the Haotian Empire.

  When it comes to countries around Feng Guo, we can't help but mention Ning and Mo.

  Ningguo is the sworn enemy of Fengguo, with a deep-seated grudge. Whenever Ningguo is mentioned, everyone's opinions are unanimous - they all think that although peace is currently being maintained, there will eventually be a great war. Xiao Mùqīng believes that before declaring war on Ningguo, they should first launch a preemptive strike against Moguo. Moguo has formidable strength and is situated in the southern part of Fengguo, eyeing it covetously. If Moguo is not pacified first, Fengguo will have to worry about its rear. However, Qiu Zhēn disagrees with him, thinking that although Moguo is strong, it's not a cause for concern. It's not that Moguo's military isn't powerful, but rather the nobles in power are indecisive and inconsistent. Even when Ningguo launched a massive attack on Tongmen, Moguo only stationed troops along the Feng-Mo border and didn't dare to send troops to join the battle.

  Of course, they are just talking about these things casually, and for now, they still don't have the ability to influence the overall situation.

  While everyone was chatting, a beautiful melody came from outside the private room, the tune was elegant and very pleasant to listen to.

  Everyone heard the sound and their spirits were all shaken. Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Sir, why don't you invite the person playing the zither outside to come closer and play a solo for us?"

  Before Tang Yin could speak, everyone nodded in agreement, and Qiu Zhen also smiled: "Drinking wine while listening to the qin is indeed a wonderful thing."

  Tang Yin had no opinion and nodded his head saying: "Alright, call Xiao Er over."

  Zhang Zhou responded with a nod, got up and opened the door, calling over Xiao Er. At the same time, he took out a few silver coins from his pocket and handed them to Xiao Er, saying: "Ask the musician outside to come in and play a few tunes for us."

  The shop assistant took the money and repeatedly replied "good".

  Everyone in the private room waited for a while, but Qin Ze didn't show up. The waiter came in with an embarrassed expression on his face. He forced a smile and bowed to everyone, saying: "I'm really sorry, ladies and gentlemen. It's just that the guests in the next private room invited Qin Ze away first. You'll have to wait for a bit."

  Since someone had already taken the lead, others couldn't say anything. After waiting for a while, the zither player still hadn't arrived. Zhang Zhou was getting impatient and called over the waiter again to ask: "Why hasn't he come yet?"

  "The guests in the next room are very generous, so..." The waiter rubbed his hands and explained.

  Zhang Zhou furrowed his brow and asked, "How much are they offering? I'll add two more ounces then."

  The shopkeeper said in a low voice: "That customer over there paid ten taels of silver."

  Zhang Zhou almost vomited blood upon hearing the words, just for listening to a song, he had to pay ten taels of silver. What kind of people were next door? As the leader of the army, his salary was not low, but having to take out ten taels of silver at once was really unbearable. He took a deep breath and slowly sat back down in his chair.

  Seeing this, Tang Yin raised his head and said slowly to Xiao Er: "Then we'll give twenty taels. You go bring the person over."

  "Ah?" The shopkeeper was also taken aback, hearing that he had to pay twenty taels of silver. He stared blankly for a moment before regaining his composure, nodding stupidly and responding: "Alright...alright, sir, I'll go right away!"

  After Xiao Er left, Tang Yin looked at Zhang Zhou, smiled calmly and raised his cup: "Come on, let's continue drinking!"

  Tang Yin usually doesn't talk much, easily giving people a sense of being high and proud, but he takes good care of his brothers under him. He won't let them be bullied by others, nor will he make them lose face.

  Zhang Zhou could certainly feel Tang Yan's thoughtfulness. He was grateful in his heart and hastily raised his wine cup, saying: "Sir, I toast to you!"

  "Haha!" Tang Yin smiled with narrowed eyes and said: "Dry!"

  "Cheers!"

  Everyone also raised their cups and drained them in one gulp.

  They clinked cups and drank for a while, but the zither player still hadn't arrived. The shopkeeper wiped his forehead again and entered with a bitter smile: "Sir, the customer on the other side... still won't let him go, and has already increased the price to fifty taels."

  As soon as he heard this, not only did Zhang Zhou become restless, but the others also furrowed their brows. Shangguan Yuanbiao was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table and shouted: "This is clearly someone who can't get along with us! I'll go take a look, what kind of people are living next door!" As he spoke, he lifted his leg to head outside, and from his fierce demeanor, it didn't seem like he was going to take a look at anyone, but rather find someone to fight to the death.

  Tang Yin was also curious about the other's identity and did not stop Yuan Biao, but Qiu Zhen knocked on the table, dissatisfied with a light cough, and said slowly: "A while ago, Brother Tang had just punished the local tyrants in the Heng City area. Now, we can't replace them, can we? What do you think, Brother Tang?"

  Tang Yin didn't think there was anything wrong with Shangguan Yuanbiao at first, but after listening to Qiu Zhen's words, his old face suddenly turned red, and he shook his head and smiled, saying: "En! Xiao Zhen is right, Yuanbiao, sit back down!"

  "Hmph!" Xiang Guan Yuan Biao let out a heavy hum, sat back down in his chair, his body returned but his anger had yet to dissipate. His arms were crossed, eyes wide open, and his face was full of rage.

  The shopkeeper didn't dare to stay any longer, among the people sitting there, he couldn't afford to offend anyone. He swallowed his saliva and said in a low voice: "I'll leave first!" After finishing speaking, he quickly walked out of the private room.

  Seeing that everyone's face was not good, Tang Yin smiled and said: "There are many rich people in the world, so don't worry about it."

  "They are deliberately opposing us, this clearly shows that they want to make a move on Tai Sui's head!" Shangguan Yuanbiao said indignantly.

  Tang Yin raised an eyebrow but ultimately endured it, only using the corner of his eye to glance at Cheng Jin, indicating that he would investigate the other's identity later.

  Before Cheng Jin went to investigate, the other party took the initiative to come to his door.

  Just as Tang Yin and others wanted to leave, a knock at the door came from outside the house.

  They thought he was a shop assistant, and nobody asked much, they just called him over directly.

  The door opened and a group of people walked in from outside, led by a man in his thirties.

  They didn't know who the other party was, but Shangguan brothers and Cheng Jin stood up one after another, their eyes filled with vigilance as they stared at them.

  The big man rushed towards the crowd with a smile and said, "Everyone, don't get me wrong. We didn't mean any harm. We're just diners from the next room, coming to say hello."

  "Ah!" Magistrate Ouyang's temper, which had just subsided a little, suddenly flared up again. He hadn't gone to look for them, but they had come looking for him instead. He sneered: "So you're the fools who spent fifty taels of silver listening to music next door!"

  As soon as this was said, the faces of these people changed at once. The big man who led them was still calm and composed, completely ignoring Ouyang Yuanbiao, but instead casting his gaze on Tang Yin sitting upright in the middle. He smiled and asked: "I suppose you are County Magistrate Tang Yin of Pingyuan County? Just now I was just playing a small joke with your lordship, I hope your lordship won't take offense!"

  "Oh? The other party can call out his own name in one breath, Tang Yin is somewhat unexpected. He sits on the chair without moving, with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, and asks: "May I ask, who are you?"

  "My name is Lu Fang!" The big man turned his head and pointed to the crowd behind him, saying: "These are all my friends. We happened to arrive in Heng City on our travels and coincidentally met you having a meal here, so we came to pay our respects!"

  Tang Yin and Qiu Zhen were unfamiliar with Lu Fang's name, but Qu Jin was taken aback.

  He had heard of Lu Fang before. Although he was not a high-ranking official, he was quite famous and considered one of the most renowned wandering knights in Feng Guo.

  Youxia is also known as Haotiao, not belonging to anyone's control, traveling all over the world, walking through various vassal states, forming their own school, claiming to be heroic and righteous, but actually just doing things according to their own preferences, similar to those Jianghu people in Wuxia.

  Cheng Jin whispered in Tang Yin's ear, "Sir, this man is a wandering knight, and he is from our own country of Feng!"

  Youxia? Tang Yin was no stranger to this term. If anything, Yan Liansheng had been a youxia in his lifetime as well.

  Perhaps due to the severe relationship, Tang Yin suddenly had a good impression of Lu Fang and others. He stood up, waved his hand and said: "It turns out that it is Lu Haojie, guests are coming, since you all travel to my Pingyuan County, then you are my guests, today your bills will be mine."

  Tang Yin's generosity and magnanimity immediately clicked with the temperament of the wandering knights, and upon hearing this, everyone's face lost their anger and was filled with joyful smiles.

  The wandering knights were pleased with the hospitality, and Tang Yin's courtesy naturally made them feel very welcome. Lu Fang smiled and said: "Sir is so refreshing!" As he spoke, he turned his head and waved his hand, letting his companions bring the zither-playing gentleman closer, then smiled at Tang Yin and said: "If sir doesn't mind, I'd like to drink with you at the same table!"

  "Haha——" Tang Yin also laughed and said: "I have the same idea!"

  Seeing that neither side had made a scene, Cheng Jin secretly let out a sigh of relief.

  He wasn't afraid of Lu Fang and those wandering heroes, but rather found them extremely annoying.

  Rogues are basically selfish people who do things based on their own preferences. If they offend you, it's like being haunted by a vengeful spirit. Even if they can't beat you in a fight, they'll still cause trouble around you, doing destructive things that give you headaches. Moreover, rogues have many friends and wander all over the place, spreading rumors quickly, making it easy to ruin someone's reputation.